Monday 21 November 2011

Handmade Monday: all about recycling!

Good morning everyone, I trust you all had a great (if not chilly weekend). We definitely noticed a change in the temperature last week and fear that our short Autumn is over and Winter is at our door. The temperature drops to below zero at night and just about manages to creep back to a couple of degrees above it during the day. This will be our first full winter in La Suisse and we feel very underdressed so we need to plan some winter clothes shopping. Never mind, we layered up clothes yesterday and went for a 10km walk with Alf on Sunday morning along the river Aare I introduced you to last week.

Also the place looks desolate on the picture above, plenty of water birds were spotted but my favourite photo subject of all remains herons!


We walked across a small pine plantation in the middle of the forest and have already (mentally) shopped for our Christmas tree!

Feeling rather energised by the walk in the cold outside, I got the sewing machine out after lunch and decided to embark on a project which would use a substantial amount of my fabric stash in order to de-clutter my craft cupboard a bit. Do you remember these?

The Ikea curtains were left in our old flat in Meilen as they had (eventually) been cut to fit our living room windows properly. However, because Ikea curtains always come very long (3m) and our windows were not tall, I was left over which quite a lot of spare linen-mix beige fabric. Fast forward a bit, and we are now the owner of a rather long dining room table (>2m when extended) with only one tablecloth big enough to cover it. I decided to try and make a tablecloth with some of the Ikea curtain fabric and see how it looked. I can always take it apart and re-use the fabric if you tell me it looks naff.

Because I know from experience that Ikea curtains never are the same length/width and their stripes/marks never match up, a lot of time was spent measuring to make sure that the fabric from 2 curtain panels could be joined in a neat large rectangle.

The section where the 2 panels were joined together is not too visible but I thought that making a table runner to go across would hide it. I used some of the African fabric I had left over from making my first ever dress this summer. It was a simple cut and hem job.

What do you think? I don’t know whether the colours of the tablecloth and runner go well with the light greyish chair covers? Mr T says it looks stylish so I am thinking that it may just work! In which case I’d say “Successful recycling!”.
Happy Handmade Monday everyone! We should finally have internet at home tonight and I look forward to finally catching up with blogland!

16 comments:

Wendy said...

Yes, stylish is the right word. A job well done!

Christmas Pie Crafts said...

Very smart - well done. the pics of the Heron are great - lovely birds. We have a fish pond so get to see them regularly - not always welcome I have to say, but they are magnificent.

Vic said...

Looks great! Agreed with Mr T about it being stylish, but then again you are always so stylish x

JuanitaTortilla said...

We speak the same craft language!
I think the table cloth works.

The husband and I enjoy splashing batiks here and there too, with a mix of Ikea :D Thank goodness for Ikea, I say.

Anonymous said...

A very effective simple idea - looks so cold where you are - wrap up warm!

Jam Dalory said...

What a good way to use up some excess material. Loving the photos of outdoors too, it looks really nice. x

zsazsazsu said...

what a great way to recycle !
Don't mention it to your guests ... dinner on Ikea curtains pimped with part of your dress :-)
- or make it part of the menu !

Caroline Lovis (Redneedle) said...

You've got my vote, I'm a big fan of using offcuts and you've done a great job here

Unknown said...

What a lovely idea... definitely a chic table dressing and done with such panache!

lovetartan said...

Really good idea! I really like the fabric for the stripe - lovely colour Mich :)

Mrs A. said...

You have done a really worthwile recycling job here. The colours look perfect together. Hugs Mrs A.

Stephen said...

They do look quite stylish. If I had just been told what colours everything was, I would have my doubts about if they would work together, but the photo of your table and chairs does show them working well together.

Carolee Crafts said...

Very smart and love the heron

Kat Shenton said...

It is stylish! I wouldn't worry there. And Festive. So do not worry, recycling in style has been achieved!

Susie said...

I do think it's stylish! I love to recycle things. I have a few ideas for some clothes I have too, and I'm trying to imagine something from my prom dress if you can imagine. Why not? You have done a wonderful job here. :)

guscameron85 said...

I think Mr T's right - the table cloth and runner is looking dead good! A Team Blue success!

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